5 key features you need on your financial website
No matter what kind of financial institution you may be the manager or director of, there are certain features of your website that you should prioritize. Whether you are concerned with an investment bank, a commercial bank, an insurance company or even a brokerage firm, when it comes to moving money, every tiny detail is important. The following five features have been determined to be highly important for a financial institution’s website.
1. Mobile apps
If there is one thing which can be said of today’s consumer it would be that a majority of them access the internet from a mobile device much of the time. This is why your financial institution should have a proprietary mobile app where your customers can access their accounts while on the go. You will definitely need a number of API Management Tools to ensure smooth and secure communication between the customer’s mobile device and their account.
2. Updated security
If there is one thing that can be said about being online, it would be the continual worry that you will be hacked. This is truer of financial institutions than almost any other industry or service. Even though technology advances, and security reaches new levels, hackers are also getting savvier by the day. For this reason, security is of utmost importance and should be continually updated to prevent nefarious attacks.
3. Customer service chatbots
Very few financial institutions are open evenings and weekends which is why they refer to those hours of operation as “banker’s hours.” Many banks and brokerages have a 24/7 chatbot so that customers can interact with customer service reps at hours that are convenient for them. The world is no longer on a 9 to 5 schedule so a chatbot with extended hours, even if only until 9PM, is a key selling point.
4. Uncluttered web pages
One of the main complaints many customers have is finding the information they need quickly. Web pages should be laid out well and uncluttered, often referred to as having sufficient whitespace, so that the links and information a customer needs are highly visible and easily accessible. If you offer online services, they should be user friendly, or you just might find yourself losing customers. There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to find the needed information at any given moment. It will also be easier to create a responsive website if your pages are not overly complicated.
5. Customer tools
One of the most useful tools you can provide your customer is an online calculator. Many consumers like having the ability to quickly calculate interest rates so this kind of calculator would be ideal. Some financial institutions have a blog or a section for educational articles. These can be written to help customers budget better or learn the ins and outs of investing. You would be surprised at just how much your customers will appreciate these educational tools.
The world of finance is highly complex and always at risk. Making your website and mobile apps safer will be a great advantage. Also, the ease at which customers can navigate your site will go far in keeping their business. These may be only five important features, but each and every one is vital for any financial institution’s website.
